Chainsaws and artistic ice chipping will take center stage alongside hot and spicy chili this weekend as Carmel’s “Festival of Ice” presents the inaugural Carmel Ice Carving Competition and Chili Cook-Off, featuring professional ice carvers from around the Midwest going head-to-head at the city’s new outdoor ice rink.
Visitors will be able to watch beautiful ice sculptures take shape before their eyes Saturday afternoon while sampling the best Carmel Fire Department chili recipes from all six fire stations at the Chili Cook-Off. The ice carving action continues on Sunday with the highly competitive Ice Carve-Off speed-carving competition on the Drees Home Stage.
The beautiful sculptures will be on display all weekend and will be illuminated at night for your viewing pleasure during evening skate sessions. Those attending will also have the opportunity to cast votes for their favorite sculptures and chili recipes.
One of the nation’s top professional ice carvers, Greg Butauski of Columbus, Ohio, will be among the ice carving competitors. Butauski is one of only six Certified Master Carvers in the country and is the reigning 2017 National Ice Carving Association champion. In 2002, he was the captain of the USA team that competed at the Winter Olympics Ice Carving Competition in Salt Lake City.
Also competing are Harvey Russell of Kirkwood, Mo.; Jeff Peterczak of Columbus, Ohio; Michael Stoddart of Lexington, Ky.; Matt Stoddart of Lexington, Ky.; Stephan A. Koch of Yorktown, Ind.; and Shannon Gerasimchuk of Columbus, Ohio.
The two-day event is free and open to the public. Make a day of it by enjoying a variety of food and beverages from Ice at Center Green vendors. Ice skating and ice rentals will be available at the regular times and sessions. See the Ice at Center Green website for information.
About the Ice Festival
The City of Carmel has launched its first “Festival of Ice” at Center Green in January as a celebration of winter and ice surrounding the City’s new Ice at Center Green outdoor ice skating rink. The festival features special events, special offers, food vendors and skating sessions each Wednesday through Sunday, until March 11. Vendors include: Matt the Miller’s Tavern (serving beer, wine, wassail and their famous pretzel bites), Baked Cheese Haus (raclettes, soups, hot beverages), Pastries Chefs (croissants, muffins, panini, waffles, sandwiches, cakes, hot beverages) and the daily concessions hut (brats, hot dogs, coffee, hot chocolate).